PLATANO MADURO (Fried plantains)

Fried plantains can be served with any meal, eaten with cheese and natilla for breakfast or as a side with lunch or dinner, or with coffee in the afternoon for a snack. Plantains are usually yellow when ripe, and are larger than bananas (don’t confuse the two!). They can be eaten raw but are easier to digest and taste sweeter when cooked.

Prepare a frying pan with oil, making sure the bottom is coated. The oil should be hot before frying, placing the plantains in unheated oil makes them mushy and difficult to remove from the pan.
Cut the plantain in half and peel.
Cut the plantain into slices about a quarter of an inch thick and place side by side in hot frying pan.
Let plantains fry in oil until golden brown on both sides.

When removing plantains from the pan, have a plate or dish covered with a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Enjoy with natilla or cheese! And be aware, eating too much platano maduro can give you a stomach ache.

NOTE: To make a casserole using platano maduro, cut and fry 4 or 5 plantains and layer them with plain cheese in a baking dish, then bake for 15-20 mins at 350F.